India’s Achilles Heel

Guest blog post by Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Secretary, Department of CommerceIndia has a bright future in solar energy.Its renewable energy market is currently valued at $17 billion dollars, and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent.  And remarkably, there is potential for even bigger things. According to one estimate, to keep economic growth at current levels, India will need to add 150 gigawatts of capacity over the next five years. Clearly, there is both a market and a need for clean energy in India.  And, U.S. companies have the technology and products to meet these needs and help spur economic development.  It’s a natural partnership.  That’s why, yesterday, during my keynote speech at SOLARCON India 2011, I urged all parties to consider new partnerships with each other so that we can build a clean future together.  Hosted in the city of Hyderabad, the trade event brought together a wide-range of business leaders, academics and government officials to exchange ideas about the clean energy sector. Although estimates about the attendance are unavailable at this time, just last year, it drew over 4,000 people from over 30 countries.    This year, there was incredible energy and excitement in the air. For U.S. firms, India’s solar market represents a huge opportunity to get involved in a booming sector in a growing market, resulting in thousands, if not millions, of jobs for people in both countries.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported today that the seasonally adjusted real value of the nation's production of goods and services grew at a 5.7% annual rate during the fourth quarter. That's great news, but...

High inflation, federal budget deficits, a record trade imbalance and sluggish growth have plagued the Indian economy over the last year, but a recovery may soon be in the offing.   In a view that stands apart from the gloomy headlines and skepticism about India’s economic prospects, Credit Suisse Head of Southeast Asia and India Economics Robert Prior-Wandesforde said last week that the economy’s downward trajectory may have finally hit bottom.  

Infrastructure development in sub-Saharan Africa needs 93 billion dollars annually over the next decade, with half to target the continent's power supply crisis, the World Bank said Thursday.A study in 24 states estimates that spending needs to double -- to roughly 15 percent of Africa's gross domestic product -- on poor infrastructure which it said cuts annual national economic growth by two points and productivity by up to 40 percent.

Jarred Cummans submits:Investors seeking high growth for their portfolios have long grown tired of the meager returns that many U.S.-based investments have offered. As a result, many have turned their attention to emerging markets which are nations around the globe with surging populations that are experiencing rapid development.

China trade still faces uncertainties in 2013 BEIJING — China’s export growth rebounded surprisingly sharply to a seven-month high in December, a strong finish to the year after seven straight quarters of slowdown, but subdued global demand means that the spike may not herald an enduring recovery. Uncertain trade prospects contrast with data that showed resilient local loan demand, further evidence that the world’s second-largest economy rebounded towards 8% annual growth in the last quarter of 2012 on firming domestic demand.